Tree seat

ABSTRACT

A collapsible and portable tree seat for hunters, campers, etc. comprises two narrow hinged seat sections suspended from a tree trunk by a sling and a telescoping strut with a curved tip which engages the trunk of a tree to space the seat from the tree trunk so that the user can comfortably center himself on the seat without touching the tree trunk.

United States Patent Zdroik 1 May 23, 1972 [s41 TREE SEAT 1,437,864 12/1922 Rupe et al ..l82/l87 72 Inventor: Melvin M. Zdroik, 2060 South 7701 gags; 3 132? g 82/187 s Milwaukee s i l a In [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1971 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado pp No 121 876 Attorney-Wheeler, House & Wheeler ABSTRACT A collapsible and portable tree seat for hunters, campers, etc. Field H87 1 88 comprises two narrow hinged seat sections suspended from u tree trunk by a sling and a telescoping strut with a curved tip which engages the trunk of a tree to space the seat from the [56] References Cned tree trunk so that the user can comfortably center himself on UNITED STATES PATENTS the seat without touching the tree trunk.

857,203 6/ l 907 Randall l 82/ l 87 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures TREE SEAT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Tree suspended seats have been used by hunters for many years although they have not become popular because they are generally uncomfortable, and too bulky to carry.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a portable tree seat with two seat sections hinged together along abutting edges by hinges on the under side of the seat sections. The hinges permit the seat sections to be folded when the seat is not in use, and the abutting edges prevent movement of the sections about the hinge pins in a downward direction to keep the seat sections from collapsing when in use.

A strut spaces the seat from the trunk so that the user can comfortably position himself on the seat without interference from the trunks. The strut is pivotally connected to one of the seat portions and includes a sleeve and a telescoping rod with a transverse fold or curved tip which engages the trunk. The strut can be withdrawn from the sleeve to an extended position for use and moved inwardly to a retracted position for storage between the folded seat sections.

The strut is maintained in the tree engaging position by a brace or re-inforcing rod which has one end pivotally connected to the other seat section and an end connectable to the strut to form a rigid triangle.

The seat is suspended from the trunk by a sling which is wrapped around the tree trunk and has ends with clips which are connected beneath the seat.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tree seat of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarge bottom view of the tree seat.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along lines 3- 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional along lines 4- 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional along lines 5- 5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view of the tree seat in the collapsed storage condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The tree seat 10 includes two seat sections 12 and 14 which have abutting edges 16 and 18 and adjoining margins 17 and 19 which are pivotally connected by hinges 20 and 22. When the seat sections 12 and 14 are in the unfolded condition for use as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the edges 16 and 18 are in abutting relationship and downward pressure on the seat presses the edges 16 and 18 together to maintain the seat sections in an unfolded co-planar relationship.

Each seat section 12 and 14 has a notch 24 for receiving the legs 26 and 28 of a sling 30. The sling 30 is desirably wrapped around the tree 31 and knotted at 32 on the side of the tree 31 opposite the seat 10. The ends of the sling 30 are connected beneath the seat by suitable fasteners or clips 34.

To space the seat from the tree trunk so that the user can comfortably center himself on the seat, the invention provides a strut 36 which has a tubular member 38 with an eye 40 at the inner end which is pivotally connected to the seat portion 14 by a hinge bolt 42. The tubular member 38 telescopically receives a rod 44 which has a folded or transverse end 46 which engages the tree trunk. Means are provided for locking the rod in an extended position. In the disclosed construction,

the rod 44 is provided with a peg or cam follower 48 which is rod 44 is in the extended position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, the cam follower 48 is located in a transverse notch 52 in the cam slot 50 which maintains the rod 44 in an extended outer position. The strut 36 can also be used with the rod 44 in a retracted position (FIG. 2, 5) with the cam follower 48 located at the inner end of the cam slot. The inner end of the cam slot 50 and the notch thus define two useable positions for the telescoping rod 44. In both positions, the folded end 46 is in a plane parallel with the unfolded seat sections 12 and 14.

To rigidify the strut 36, the invention provides a brace 56 which has an eye 58 at the inner end pivotally connected by bolt 60 to seat section 12. Means are provided for connecting the brace 56 to the strut 36. In the disclosed construction, the means comprises a hook 62 on the brace 56 and a tab 64 on the outer tubular member 38 which is provided with an eye 66 which receives the hook 62. When the brace 56 is connected to the strut, a rigid triangular structure is formed with the strut 36 and brace 56 forming sides of the triangle and seat sections l2, 14 forming the base of the triangle. Thus, pivotal movement of either the strut 36 or the brace 56 is prevented and the strut is maintained in the erect tree engaging position. With the seat spaced from the tree, the user can comfortably balance himself on the seat. The tree trunk can be con veniently used as a back rest if desired. With the seat 10 spaced from the tree trunk, a hunger can easily twist his body when watching for game.

When the seat is not in use or is being carried, the strut 36 and brace 56 are pivoted between the folded seat portions 12, 14 as shown in FIG. 6. The folded seat and sling can be conveniently carried in a bag (not shown) which can be fastened to a belt.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable tree seat including a seat portion, a sling for suspending the seat portion from a tree trunk, a strut pivotally connected to said seat portion and movable between a positionbeneath the seat and an erect position to engage a tree trunk and space the seat portion from the tree trunk, a brace pivotablv connected to said seat portion at a point remote from said connection of said strut and said seat portion, and means for connecting said brace to said strut to maintain said strut in said erect position.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to connect said brace to said strut comprises a hook on one of said strut and said brace and an eye on the other of said brace and said strut.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said strut has an outer tubular member pivotally connected telescoped said seat portion, a rod telescoped in said tubular portion said rod including a transverse rest portion at the end of said rod, and means on said tubular member to maintain said rod in an extended position.

4. A tree seat in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for locking said rod in the extended position comprises a cam slot in said tubular member, a cam follower on said rod said cam slot extending axially and circumferentially of said tubular member and a transverse notch in said slot to receive aNd retain said follower to maintain said rod in the extended position.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said seat portion has first and second pivotallv connected seat sections and wherein said strut is connected to one of said seat sections and said brace is connected to the other of said seat sections.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said seat has notches to receive said sling and said sling has fastening clips for connection beneath the seat.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, L60 Dated May 25, 1972 Iziventor(s) Melvin M ZdIOik It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, Line IO, change "enlarge" to "enlarged-- Column 2, Line 28, change hunger to ---hunter---- 7 Column 2, Line 52, delete "telescoped" and insert t o-- Signed and sealed this 17th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJ'TLETCHERJR. ROBERT GOT'I'SCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60375-P59 Q U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1 I989 0-366'334 

1. A portable tree seat including a seat portion, a sling for suspending the seat portion from a tree trunk, a strut pivotally connected to said seat portion and movable between a position beneath the seat and an erect position to engage a tree trunk and space the seat portion from the tree trunk, a brace pivotably connected to said seat portion at a point remote from said connection of said strut and said seat portion, and means for connecting said brace to said strut to maintain said strut in said erect position.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to connect said brace to said strut comprises a hook on one of said strut and said brace and an eye on the other of said brace and said strut.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said strut has an outer tubular member pivotally connected telescoped said seat portion, a rod telescoped in said tubular portion said rod including a transverse rest portion at the end of said rod, and means on said tubular member to maintain said rod in an extended position.
 4. A tree seat in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for locking said rod in the extended position comprises a cam slot in said tubular member, a cam follower on said rod said cam slot extending axially and circumferentially of said tubular member and a transverse notch in said slot to receive aNd retain said follower to maintain said rod in the extended position.
 5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said seat portion has first and second pivotally connected Seat sections and wherein said strut is connected to one of said seat sections and said brace is connected to the other of said seat sections.
 6. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said seat has notches to receive said sling and said sling has fastening clips for connection beneath the seat. 